Big Dam Bridge Car Trouble, Little Rock

If your car quits near the Big Dam Bridge in Little Rock, roll it into a park lot, not onto the shoulder of Rebsamen Park Road where runners and bikes pass. Turn on your hazards. Then name your side of the river: Murray Park at 5900 Rebsamen Park Road, or Cook's Landing Road in North Little Rock. The bridge carries no cars, so the wrong side means a long detour for your driver.

Why is car trouble at the Big Dam Bridge different?

Most breakdowns happen on a road built for cars. This one happens next to a trail built for people. Pulaski County says the Big Dam Bridge is 4,226 feet long and carries walkers and bikes only. It sits on top of Murray Lock and Dam.

So the parking lots at each end fill with people in workout clothes. Kids on scooters. Dogs on leashes. Riders clipping in next to their cars. A stalled car with the hood up pulls them close. A tow truck backing in needs room they don't always give.

That changes your first job. You're not only getting off the road. You're getting out of the path of the trail crowd too.

Which side of the river am I on?

This is the most useful thing you can tell your driver. The two ends of the bridge are in two different cities.

South end, Little Rock: Murray Park, 5900 Rebsamen Park Road. The city says the park sits just downstream from Murray Lock and Dam. It has a boat ramp, a dog park, pavilions and restrooms.
North end, North Little Rock: Cook's Landing Park. Pulaski County says it's next to the north side of the bridge ramp, with parking by the cul-de-sac of Cook's Landing Road.
Upriver, Two Rivers Park: the county's Two Rivers Park Bridge links the river trail to Two Rivers Park. The city names a Two Rivers Bridge parking lot off River Mountain Road.

Here's why it matters. You walked across the river on foot. Your driver can't. To get from Murray Park to Cook's Landing, a truck has to cross on the I-430 bridge and loop back. If you name the wrong lot, you lose that time twice.

Not sure? Look for the water. If the river is north of you, you're on the Little Rock side. If it's south of you, you're in North Little Rock.

My car died on Rebsamen Park Road. Where do I stop?

Murray Park sits on Rebsamen Park Road, right where the trail crowd parks. People on foot and on bikes cross to the lots all day. A narrow shoulder there is not the place to sit with the hood up.

If the car still rolls, coast into the nearest park lot or a wide pull-off.
Turn on your hazards as soon as you slow down.
Set the parking brake and turn the engine off.
Get out on the side away from traffic, then step well off the pavement.
If the car is stuck in a lane and you can't move it, call 911.

Watch for riders while you limp along, too. The City of Little Rock explains that Arkansas law makes drivers give a bike at least three feet when they pass. If you can't give three feet, you change lanes. If you can't change lanes, you wait. That rule is Ark. Code 27-51-311. A slow car with a problem is no excuse to squeeze a rider.

What usually goes wrong at a trailhead lot?

Trail parking has its own set of problems. You leave the car for a long ride or a slow walk. You come back tired, and something is off.

The battery is dead

You left the lights on, or a door wasn't shut all the way. Or the battery was weak and the car sat for hours. A jump start fixes most of these right in the lot. Leave a gap on one side of the car if you can, so the driver can pull close.

The keys are locked inside

This one is common with runners. Keys go on the seat while you stretch, then the door shuts. If your keys are visible, tell us. A car lockout visit gets you back in without breaking glass.

A tire is flat

If you have a good spare, your driver can put it on. That's a flat tire change. If there's no spare, or the spare is flat too, plan on a tow to a tire shop.

It won't start at all

Some cars need a ride. A car tow can take yours to a shop or home. Know where you want it to go before you call.

Where should I wait for my driver?

Don't wait on the trail itself. Bikes come fast down the bridge ramps, and a group standing on the path gets in the way.

On the Little Rock side, the city funded restrooms, a bike repair station and a walkway near the base of the bridge at Murray Park. That's a fair place to sit if you can still see your car. On the North Little Rock side, the 2019 flood damaged the old pavilion. In 2022, the county and North Little Rock broke ground on a plaza to replace it. The plan was a spot to gather away from bike traffic.

Keep your phone charged and your keys with you. If someone makes you feel unsafe, call 911. For something that isn't an emergency on the Little Rock side, the city lists the Little Rock Police Department at (501) 371-4829.

What if the river is high?

The lots by the bridge sit low, right on the water. In June 2019, the City of Little Rock closed Rebsamen Park Road from the Riverfront Drive roundabout to Overlook Road. It also closed River Mountain Road at the Two Rivers Bridge parking lot entrance. The Big Dam Bridge and the Two Rivers Pedestrian Bridge closed too.

Never drive around a barricade or into water on the road.
If your car stalls in water, get out and move to high ground. Call 911 if you're in danger.
Check IDriveArkansas before you head out on the highways.

A tow truck can't reach a car behind a closure either. Wait for the road to open, then call.

How does Sentinel help here?

Sentinel Towing is a towing and roadside network. We don't own trucks, and we have no office by the river. A vetted local partner tow company does the job. We lock your price by text before anyone is sent. Then we check on you by text until help arrives. That's our Stay-With-You Promise.

You get your driver's name, photo and truck by text. In a lot full of trucks with bike racks, that helps. You can also track your truck on a map while you sit by the restrooms.

When your driver works beside the road, other drivers have a duty too. ARDOT says Arkansas law makes drivers move over for a tow truck with flashing lights, or slow down if they can't.

What should I say when I call?

Which end: "Murray Park, 5900 Rebsamen Park Road" or "Cook's Landing Road, by the bridge ramp."
Where in the lot, like near the restrooms or the boat ramp.
What happened: a click, no sound, a flat, or keys inside.
Make, model and color.
Where the car should go if it needs a tow.

For help anywhere else in town, from Chenal Valley to the airport, see our Little Rock towing page.

Stuck right now? Call 1-888-TOW-1213, or request help online.

Big Dam Bridge Car Trouble Questions

Can a tow truck drive across the Big Dam Bridge?

No. Pulaski County says it's a bridge for walkers and bikes only. Your driver has to cross the river on a road bridge, like I-430. Tell us which end you're on.

Is Cook's Landing in Little Rock?

No. Cook's Landing Park is at the north end of the bridge, in North Little Rock. Murray Park is the Little Rock end. Say the park name when you call.

My keys are in the car and I'm in running clothes. What now?

Call from a friend's phone or ask someone nearby. We text the price and your driver's details to the number you give us. A lockout visit gets you back in.

Can I get towed out if the river road is closed?

Not while it's closed. No one should drive past a barricade. Once the city reopens the road, call and we'll send help.

Rules change, so check the official source before you rely on it. Sources: Pulaski County, Big Dam Bridge, Pulaski County Parks, Pulaski County, Big Dam Bridge North Plaza, City of Little Rock, Murray Park, City of Little Rock, Murray Park amenities, City of Little Rock, 2019 flood closures, City of Little Rock, Three Feet Law, ARDOT Just Move Over, City of Little Rock helpful numbers, IDriveArkansas.

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